List of Top 5 Zakat Accepting Organizations in USA

“Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status.”-Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).   List of Top 5 Zakat Accepting Organizations in USA

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Zakat is a spiritual and mandatory giving of alms to the unfortunate people of our country, who are struggling really hard to fulfill their basic necessities of life every day. It is a financial kind of worship that has been imposed upon adult Muslim of sound mind and means.

Islam preaches fairness so it has imposed lenient laws and regulations regarding Zakat, to ensure that both the parties can benefit from it. Therefore, the rich are asked to give away 2.5% of their wealth or savings once every year so that it does not put any financial strains over them.

Islam has also mentioned the 8 kinds of people who deserve to be paid Zakat in the following verses:

“The alms are only for the Fuqara’ (the poor), and Al-Masakeen (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s Cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.” [Al-Quran 9:60]

Now the amount that has been asked to be paid every year is very negligible, and it won’t affect our wealth and savings much. But think about those poor and needy people who would benefit immensely from your sincere giving every year.

By giving Zakat, we are accepting the shortcomings of the people who are weaker than us. Through this charitable act, we are also accepting the fact that whatever wealth we own is given to us by Allah the Almighty.

In order to remember Allah the Almighty and to fulfill our social responsibilities, it is important that we give Zakat annually.

For your convenience, here, we have listed top 5 Zakat Accepting Organizations in the USA, where you can donate your Zakat money to make a difference in our society and in the lives of millions who are unfortunate and looking forward to our kind attention and support. 

List of Top 5 Zakat Accepting Organizations in USA

1. Transparent Hands

2. Islamic Relief USA

3. Zakat Foundation of America

4. Muslim Aid USA

5. ICNA Relief USA

1. Transparent Hands:

“Transparent Hands” is a trust organization and the online Crowdfunding platform in health sector of Pakistan, which is striving to provide the best surgical treatment to thousands of underprivileged patients. Transparent Hands uses its web portal, to connect billions of donors around the world to help in funding the surgeries of poor patients. It also ensures to provide transparent funding system to the donors. Donors are ensured that each penny they donate, will be spent on the needy patient’s surgery, and this is done through the hospital bills which are uploaded on Transparent Hand’s web portal.

Our Role:

• Committed to Provide Free Surgeries to Those Who Cannot Afford

Transparent Hands conducts the surgeries of deserving patients, free of cost at private hospitals with the help of donations and charity. 

Download our TransparentHands iPhone Application for Online Donation

2. Islamic Relief USA :

“Islamic Relief USA” accepts zakat donations and distributes them according to Islamic principles. We work with active mosques and community organizations around the country to identify people, who qualify for help and distribute the assistance. Recipients include low-income families, refugees and survivors of domestic violence. The zakat donations cover expenses such as rent assistance, emergency medical expenses, employment training, food vouchers, utilities and other emergency needs.

Sadaqah donations are also used to help support qualified programs. One of our programs, like the Winston-Salem State University Community Care Center in North Carolina, has used sadaqah to help provide patients with low socio-economic status gain access to physical and occupational therapy; and is supporting medical devices, equipment, supplies, shoe orthotics and more. The funds also helped support the salary of a part-time physical therapist. Another program with Islamic American Zakat Foundation, has been servicing needy families and individuals living below the poverty line with rental, utility, fuel, medical expense, shelter and clothing.

MISSION :

Islamic Relief USA provides relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world.

VISION :

Working together for a world free of poverty.

VALUES :

These traits express the belief and define the culture of the organization. We remain guided by the timeless values and teachings, provided by the revelations contained within the Qur’an and prophetic example.

3. Zakat Foundation of America :

“Zakat Foundation of America” is unique among humanitarian organizations, in advancing zakat as a vehicle for social change. The third pillar of Islam, zakat is an obligatory claim on the wealth of the rich to empower the poor.

Our Vision :

We help generous and caring people reach out to those in need. Our goal is to address immediate needs and ensure the self-reliance of the poorest people around the world with zakat and sadaqa. 

We believe that those whom God has granted wealth need to cleanse that wealth through charity, and those whom God has tried with loss, are accorded a rightful share from the resources of the rich.

Our Mission :

We foster charitable giving to alleviate the immediate needs of poor communities, and to establish long-term development projects that ensure individual and community growth.

We accomplish this mission by:

• Bringing immediate relief during and after disasters, building and supporting schools, orphanages and health clinics, supporting community development programs and micro-credit, providing Ramadan Iftars and food distribution, and providing fresh meat for Qurbani and Aqeeqah through the support of community-based initiatives.
• Serving as a trusted zakat and sadaqa resource center for our Muslim donors.
• Serving as a trusted charity option for all donors through financial transparency and strict standards of efficiency and accountability
• Minimizing expenses by maintaining a small administrative staff
• Maximizing donations by establishing strategic partnerships

4.Muslim Aid USA :

“Muslim Aid USA” was founded by a collective of established American non-profit professionals, who have envisioned a charity that would promote diversity, equity, inclusion and transparency at every level of its operation. In that spirit, Muslim Aid USA provides donors, from any background or giving capacity the opportunity to help people in need directly with their donations.

VISION:

Vision of Muslim Aid USA is Humanity-Increased.

MISSION:

Mission is with dignity, serve humanity through transparency, diversity and inclusion.

The ethos of Muslim Aid USA is rooted in the teachings of Quran and Sunnah highlighting a belief, that providing relief and aid to others is central to one’s humanity. As a verse from the Quran states:

“Whosoever saves a life, it is as if they have saved the lives of all humankind”

How Muslim Aid Uses Zakat:

With millions of Muslims donating their Zakat to relief aid organizations around the world, it is a pivotal way to fight poverty. Muslim Aid uses these funds to help poor communities in isolated and remote corners of the world. 

5. ICNA Relief USA :

Vision :

To become the charity of choice for all Americans based on faith, compassion and service.

Mission :

“ICNA Relief USA” seeks to alleviate human suffering, by providing caring and compassionate service to victims of adversities and survivors of disasters. ICNA Relief USA strives to build healthy communities, strengthen families and create opportunities for those in despair while maintaining their dignity and advocating for their basic human needs.

Volunteers from across the country help us accomplish our mission every day. We are a Muslim organization, and feel it is our religious responsibility to support those in need in our country regardless of their race, religion or other identifying features.

Zakat :

ICNA Relief provides social services across the U.S to the underprivileged and those affected by natural disasters. Our services are made possible through contributions from donors and volunteers like you.

“ICNA Relief does a great job of domestically distributing the Zakat funds and charity on behalf of the Muslim community.”

 Download our  Transparenthands Andriod Application for Online Donation

We should give Zakat with utmost sincerity and honesty, because this spiritual alms giving provides us a great opportunity to do something good for our poor community, and enable us to contribute to the welfare of our society.

Even though USA is one of the most developed and powerful countries of the world, it is also  struggling hard to fight the rising rates of poverty every day. 

According to the statistics reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, including the annual report on income and poverty released in September 2018, about 39.7 million Americans are living in miserable conditions due to poverty. 

The rate of child poverty in USA is rising at an alarming rate as 17.5% of them are living in poor families, and many of these families are led by single mothers. Poverty for children can be very disturbing and it can greatly hamper their mental development, by hindering their inner potentials and invoking bitterness and hatred in their minds at a very early age.

At this moment, both immigrant and non-immigrant Muslims living in America, can do a lot to help the poor population just by giving Zakat to deserving organizations, that are working dedicatedly to uplift the vulnerable population in the country.

Your Zakat money can give immediate relief to the poor and needy as it will be spent to provide them emergency food, shelter, healthcare, and medicines at the time of their crises.

We have endless power in our hands  and can bring a positive change in our society, only if we decide to unite as one soul and stand together as one nation and one country.